Comment by Steve Zarelli on April 11, 2020 at 8:26am

That is a good point. Why is she doing this? She has more money than God. Can’t help but wonder if it’s an ego thing… Some celebrities need the ego massaged and what better way to do it than have lines of fawning fans praising you all day long and paying for a few seconds of your attention?

Comment by Josh Board on April 11, 2020 at 8:56am

Spelling only has about $700,000 to her name. She didn't get any of daddy's money and was estranged from her parents. Also, she has five kids and some how, squandered all this money they had.

She had a first marriage, and the second marriage to Dean (I think that's his name; the guy who tried to block the photo), they had to do a reality show to make money, and I seem to recall, the few times I watched it -- they talked about money problems. He couldn't afford an operation, and they had a $700,000 tax bill, too.

Comment by Steve Zarelli on April 11, 2020 at 9:00am

Wow. Thanks for info. Hard to believe. I thought she got most of her dads hundreds of millions. 

Comment by BC on April 11, 2020 at 8:00pm

I don't think Tori got any of the family money. Candy probably won't leave her kids any of it in her will.

Comment by Sidney Fields on April 12, 2020 at 11:30am

The Tori Spelling incident reminds me of something similar with Joe Frazier.  More accurately, with his guy, "Mr. Love."

This goes back about 20 years and the annual induction ceremony at the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, NY.  Joe was signing autographs in a tent on HOF grounds.  I don't recall what he was charging.

This is back before smartphones.  So I had one of those plastic disposable cameras.  I had maybe 3 shots left to fire off before the actual induction ceremony.  So I stood maybe 30 feet away from Joe's tent where he was signing near the entrance and snapped away...just to get a decent shot of the great champion.

Suddenly, his guy, Mr. Love, comes charging at me waving his hands.  (My last shot on the roll was a great one showing his face and hand in front of my lease). He was all upset...didn't want people taking photos of Joe unless they paid.

I was out of film anyway so that was the end of it.  

But I was really irate as a boxing fan that Joe's guy would essentially embarrass him by acting that way to a boxing fan.  Any fan. Moreover, Joe kept signing for dollars while all the other great fighters were introduced and the induction ceremony got underway.  They eventually had to interrupt things to introduce him when he finally went over to take his seat on the dais. Even if you need money, there's a way to handle that without putting yourself above the event.

So the next day I called up a good friend who was a sportswriter in NYC. I told him what happened.  He did a nice story that got picked up nationally.  The International Boxing Hall of Fame responded by (properly) thereafter banning people from charging for autographs on the IBHOF grounds. (There are nearby hotels where fighters stay and fast food joints and an annual boxing autograph/memorabilia show at the local high school).

And, by the way, I still love that event. Some of the all-time greats who mingle and talk boxing and sign autographs or take photos... and relatively few fans considering the legends it draws. The staff is almost all volunteers...which makes it all the more impressive. Every boxing fan should make the trip at least once.

Comment by Josh Board on April 12, 2020 at 11:34am

Thanks for sharing that story. I'm a HUGE boxing fan, ans was lucky enough to meet Joe Frazier and his son. They were charging $35 per autograph, but I got a press pass to cover the event, and free autograph. Joe seemed a bit punch-drunk, but was super nice.

I think his son lasted 45 seconds in the ring with Mike Tyson, but not positive.

Your story, though...reminded me of artist Peter Max. His person TACKLED ME against a wall, as I was taking photos. And, I had a press pass to cover the event and take photos. It had already been approved. He thought I was taking pictures of his paintings, so I could forge them and repaint them (if I had that talent, I'd have a different career).

I ended up doing a huge story about Peter Max and how nuts he was, for this magazine.

Comment by Jason Strecker on April 12, 2020 at 2:50pm

Sorry about that Sidney. It really sucks when someone just hanging on someone else's fame decides they are big stuff and interferes. I had a good experience with Joe many years ago even though I was pretty young and wasn't aware of him but my grandfather knew who he was. He was at a SCD/Krause Publishing autograph convention BUT he came at the very last minute just to see Reggie Jackson who was doing autographs. There was some sort of Krause booth where he just stood and took pictures with anyone who approached. I read his Wikipedia a few weeks ago and was pretty sad to read he had some money problems a few years prior to his death. My meeting with him was basically my grandfather moving me into a position and taking the photo but still, with him being gracious it was a positive memory.

I also remember when I was starting to become a sports fans I was looking up all the halls of fame, baseball, football and boxing locally and was amazed how so many people would sign freely during the boxing ceremony. Although I was never able to go, I can only hope it is still like that, at least for the fans looking to attend.

Comment by Sidney Fields on April 12, 2020 at 3:33pm

Yeah, Jason...Joe himself was reputed to be a good guy.

The IBHOF induction weekend is still a great event for boxing fans...or any sports fan for that matter. Although this year's induction was postponed and will be combined with next year's.

Sometimes you run into non-boxing celebs there for the vibe.  Rosie Perez was the parade grand marshal one year and spent a long time talking boxing with fans.  

I ran into jazz pianist Monte Alexander.  

And...last year... the great Barrence Whitfield was walking around.  I know..I know..who?

Barrence Whitfield and the Savages from Boston area is one of the all-time great straight ahead no frills garage rock/punk/ bands.  Should be much better known. Check out classics like "Mama Get Your Hammer (There's a Fly on the Baby's Head)."

Hey...I don't write 'em I just listen to 'em.

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